Rebecca Cheptegei was the second of 13 children, but she stood out in a big family thanks to her grit and determination. Showing a particular aptitude for sports, her fast feet carried her to races around the world.
Most recently, the long distance runner represented Uganda in the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris, where she finished 44th in the women’s marathon. Photos from the event show her glazed in sweat, her face triumphant and concentrated, with only the barest hint of exhaustion in her dark eyes.
